Stringed musical instrument with interchangeable necks.



Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

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s. PILERI. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WITH INTERCHANGBABLE NEGKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1912.

S. PILERI.

STRINGED MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT WITH INTERGHANGEABLE NEGKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1912.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

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VV/bnesses COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

SALVATORE PILERI, OF CHICAGO, I LINOIS.

's'rmuonn MUSICAL msrn-umznr INTEBCHANGEABLE NECKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Sept. 30,1913.

Application filed August 39, 1912. Serial No. 717,868.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SALVATORE PILERI, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stringed Musical Instruments with Interchangeable Necks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in string instruments and more particularly to the mandolin and guitar class and has for its object the provision of a musical instrument which may be readily changed to adapt it for use as either of the above named instruments.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an in strument made in accordance with my in vention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the neck portion of the body of said instrument, Fig. 3, an enlarged vertical section through the neck portion of the instrument, Fig. 4, a perspective view of the inner portion of the neck of the instrument, Fig. 5, a perspective view of a securing screw in the instrument, Fig. 6, a perspective view of a supplemental tail piece employed when the instrument is used as a mandolin, Fig. 7, a perspective view of Y a supplemental tail piece employed when the instrument is used as a guitar, and Fig. 8, a perspective View of the instrument shown in condition to be used as a guitar.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises a body 1 which may be of any usual or desired form and is provided at its upper neck portion with a receiving socket 2, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The body 1 is provided at its lower neck portion with a threaded metallic socket member 3, as shown in Fig. 3. A detachable neck 4 is provided for body 1, said neck being provided with a projection 5 adapted to snugly fit within receiving socket 2 and carries a locking screw 6 adapted to take into threaded socket member 3, as shown in Fig. 3. Neck 4.- is provided with an ordinary mandolin finger board 7 and with mandolin strings 8, suitable keys 9 being provided for stood by those skilled in the art. Strings 8 carry a mandolin bridge 10 which is perforated for the passage of said strings and thus is permanently held in position on said tuning said strings as will be readily understrings. At their free' ends strings 8 carry a supplemental tail piece 11' which is provided at its outer endwith a downwardly. and inwardly curved securing lip 12' as indicated. Body 1 is also provided'with a main tail piece 13 which is provided at its inner end with an upwardly and outwardly curved locking'lip 14 adapted to detachably engage locking lip. 12-on tail piece 11. The parts thus far described are parts which enable tlie instrument to be employed as a mandolin as will be readily understood. I

also provide one or. more interchangeable necks and corresponding parts which may be substituted for the mandolin neck and en dow the instrument with a capacity for use as different instruments such as a guitar, or a mandolo. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein a guitar neck 15 which is provided with an ordinary guitar finger board 16 has been substituted for the mandolin neck 41; illustrated in Fig. 1. Neck 15 is provided with the ordinary guitar strings 17 and keys 18 for tuning said strings. Strings 17 also carry a guitar bridge 19 which is perforated for the passage of said strings as before and a supplemental tail piece 20 is secured to the inner ends of said strings. This tail piece is provided with an inwardly and downwardly curved locking lip 21 adapted to detachably engage locking lip 14 on the main tail piece 13 of the instrument. Otherwise the neck 15 V is identical with the neck 4 for the mandolin and may be readily interchanged therefor. Each of the different necks employed in the instrument is provided with a set of strings and a bridge to correspond so that by interchanging one neck for another and properly securing and tuning the strings, the same body may be employed for a variety of uses. The specific form of attachment between the necks and the body of the instrument will be found to. be durable and efiicient in use.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction set forth, but

- means whereby said necks desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A musical instrument comprising a body; a plurality of interchangeablenecks; may be attached to, ordetached from said body strings; on said necks a bridge permanently mounted on the strings or each neck means. for detachably securingsaid strings in operative positions on said: body, substantiallyashdescribed. a i

2. A musical instrument. comprising a body having a receivingsocket in its: upper neck portion and a threaded metallic: socket member embedded in its lower neck portion;

detachable necksv of dificrent lengths. and having a. projection: fitting within said receiving socket and a. screw taking-into: said socket member; strings. on each. of said necks; abridge on each set of said strings; a main tail piece onsaid body; and a sup? body having a receiving socket in its upper neck portion and a threaded metallic socket member embedded in its lower neck portion;

adetachableneck having a projection fitting within said receiving socket and a screw taking into said socket member; strings on said neck; a bridgev on said strings; a main tail piece on: said body and; provided, with an upwardly and outwardly curved lip atits inneredge; and a supplemental tail pieceion said strings and provided witlr a; downwardly and inwardly curved lip at itsi'nnor edge adapted to engagesaid edge-lipon said main tail piece-, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I; hare signed my nameto this specification in, the presence; of

two sub scribing I Witnesses.

' SALVATQRE; PIELERL VSlit-nessesw v I ARTHUR A. OLSON, Joanna R. 11-1.. Por'rs,

Copies of this patent may be obtainecrfor five, cents each, oyaddressing the" Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

